Blog Archives for Roads
Chief Tidwell discusses right-sizing the Forest Service road system
By Bethanie Walder - February 26, 2010
Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell spent some time on Capitol Hill this week explaining the Forest Service’s proposed 2011 budget with Congressional appropriators and oversight committees. The new budget proposes to pool numerous existing line items into one large “Integrated Resource Restoration” (IRR) program. The idea is that this would enable the agency to move forward more effectively toward all restoration objectives, including watershed restoration.
Grizzly kills follow Canadian Roads
By Thomas R Petersen - February 26, 2010
Canada's grizzly bears are in the news again, and this time not directly because of the controversial bear hunt, but because of "...massive hunting mortality along B.C.'s highways."
Politicians recognize the importance of watershed restoration
By Greg Peters - February 22, 2010 At the tail end of 2009, two prominent political bodies, the Western Governors Association (WGA) and the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) each sent letters to the USDA extolling watershed restoration, the Legacy Roads and Trails Remediation Initiative, and "Right-Sizing" the Forest Road System.
Mixed news for watershed restoration in the President’s budget
By Bethanie Walder - February 2, 2010 The President’s budget was just released, and with it came increased attention to restoration within the Forest Service, unfortunately that was coupled with what appears to be a decrease in focus on the Legacy Roads and Trails Remediation Initiative. After a cursory view, it also seems that the increased attention on restoration continues a long-running trend within the Forest Service of creating new euphemisms for the old habit of logging.
A Peek into Forest Service Road Management: Road Accomplishment Reports (RARs) Revealed
By Greg Peters - January 13, 2010
2010 Legacy Roads Regional Allocations Released
By Bethanie Walder - December 9, 2009
On October 30, Congress appropriated $90 million for the Forest Service Legacy Roads and Trails Remediation Initiative. The funds are used to protect and restore clean water by reclaiming unneeded roads and fixing the roads we do need.
We just received the 2010 regional allocations, and added them into a chart showing how they compare to the 2008 ($40 million) and 2009 ($50 million) allocations:
Legacy Roads Receives $90 million for 2010!
By Bethanie Walder - November 6, 2009
On Friday, October 30, President Obama signed the Department of Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. The bill provides funding for public lands management across the country, including the national forests. While there are many great provisions included in this act, Wildlands CPR is thrilled that the Act includes $90 million in funding for the Forest Service Legacy Roads and Trails Remediation Initiative for 2010. This is equivalent to the total amount allocated to Legacy Roads and Trails in 2008/2009 combined.
Western Governors making progress protecting habitat and linkage zones
By Bethanie Walder - October 7, 2009
I spent the last two days at the Western Governor’s Association (WGA) Wildlife Council (WGWC) meeting in Helena. The meeting focused on progress toward implementing a resolution for improving wildlife connectivity and linkage zones across the western states.
National Assessment of Travel Management Planning
By Bethanie Walder - July 1, 2009
The Institute for Environmental Negotiation at the University of
Virginia conducted a national assessment of the Forest Service's
off-road vehicle travel management planning process. Several of
Wildlands CPR's staff were interviewed for this report.
We hope it will be useful.
New Movie on Roads and Wildlife
By Sarah Peters - June 5, 2009
Next Thursday evening, June 11 at 7pm at the Roxy Theater in Missoula, MT is a film screening of a new movie entitled "Division Street," co-sponsored by American Wildlands and Transportation For America. A panel discussion with the film's producer, Eric Bendick, and
representatives from Tranportation For America and America Wildlands
will begin at 8:15pm.
“Division Street” presents a new generation of ecologists, engineers,
city-planners, and everyday citizens who are making way for wildlife by
transforming the future of the American road.
